I have long suspected that the most important aspect of my life is the answer to this question: what brings me awe? I am always trying to (force myself) be practical, to get things done. To have accomplishments and achievements I can measure. How else do I know I am doing anything worth doing? I try to find answers and seek understanding.
All of which, I believe, is good. Eternally good.
But every single day, just about, there is something I see that invites me to be in awe. Today, I watched a sunrise on the beach. I watched a flock of birds and some isolated pelicans soar over the surface of the water – their bellies and the tips of their wings seeming to glide right across the water. I spent a few minutes appreciating the wind in a palm tree. And we also saw a group of five peacocks strutting down the street. And… it’s only 9:00 a.m.
We ought to be in awe every day. To find something and allow ourselves to sit in wonder, if just for the briefest of moments. But is this practical? Does this benefit us in any way? I have always thought it doesn’t, other than just the romance of beauty. But perhaps the awe of majesty and the efficacy of practical action are not so far apart.
The Benefits of Awe
Being in awe is not just about having your head in the clouds. It is not just a “break” from reality, a moment of indulgence.
There are several reasons why awe is more practical than I often give it credit for. The first is that it pulls you outside of yourself. This is an invitation into transcendence, those areas of life that are both beyond your current experience and, to some degree, flickering within you. They need to be nurtured and awakened in order for you to live life to the fullest. Awe is a gateway to this end.
Everything we do, we do because we are motivated by an imagined future. The practice of awe helps us to stretch that muscle. It gives us an opportunity to expand our ability to imagine what is possible and to reach into the depths of our own values. Pushing us past what we understand, accomplish, and control, awe is a reminder that there is something more and that we can participate in it.
One of the most obvious benefits of awe is that it is accompanied by rest. There is a peace that comes with wonder, a strange sense that things are not as bad as they seem. That there is more going on than meets the eye. This, in essence, helps us to not be victims of our circumstances or shackled to our own emotions. The stillness of awe is rejuvenating. It is the whole idea behind vacationing.
Sensing something greater than ourselves is paradoxically energizing. The key is to not leave that feeling on the beach, so to speak. To not isolate our awe and our activity. We are way too guilty, as I have admitted to being a few paragraphs before, of siloing our experiences. When we take our awe with us, we are more empowered to face the monotony and the trouble of the day.
We cannot carry the feeling of awe with us all the time. But we can carry the reality of awe with us. We can remember it and that it is there. Awe is a lot like everything else in life. We find what we are looking for. Seeking awe can be a discipline, as strange as that sounds. If we are looking for it, it will show up more often.
For me, there is another clear benefit of awe. It informs my writing. This morning’s experiences have provided fodder for this post. You may have a significantly different job or lifestyle than mine. But awe can do the same thing for you, no matter what you are doing. There is a reason Jesus spoke his truths by parable more than any other way. We connect to metaphors. Seeing and experiencing awe can translate into a teaching moment. It might become the impetus for an analogy you use at work, out with friends, or with your kids.
The Greatest Application
The experience of awe is a powerful aspect of human life. It can surprise us and inspire us. It can often be useful. Being in awe can help us in industry and relationships, in internal peace and perspective.
Perhaps the greatest benefit of awe is that it teaches us how to choose a perspective. When we see something enigmatic, whether it is beautiful or tragic, we have to decide how to perceive it. We have to make some active choices about the mystery we are confronted with. Awe is a nice way to discipline ourselves in this area, a way to practice perspective. So that when tragedy comes, we are better equipped.
In truth, perspective is not just about tragedy and triumph. We choose a perspective every day, every moment. We choose a perspective in the mundane. And how, or if, you choose to perceive moments of awe and inspiration will affect how you choose in all other arenas of life.
Soak in those moments of awe. They are valuable. And go looking for them. Try to find something to contemplate in wonder each day. It will not just be fun, it will be practical as well.
